Man charged with attempted murder in Spryfield shooting

Neighbours said they heard one gunshot come out of 61 Williams Lake Rd. at about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. (LAURA FRASER)

A 20-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and 16 other offences after a shooting on Williams Lake Road in Spryfield on Sunday night.

A 46-year-old man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after police were called to a report of a gunshot at 8:20 p.m. He was later listed in stable condition. Sgt. Kevin McNeil said the man was shot once, but he wouldn’t say where the wound was located.

Officers and a police dog chased five suspects down Williams Lake Road and arrested them without incident. Four of them were later released, while the fifth was charged.

Police taped off 61 and 61 1/2 Williams Lake Rd.

In addition to attempted murder, the suspect is also facing charges of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, discharging a firearm with intent, discharge firearm recklessly, using firearm in the commission of an offence, careless use of a firearm, unsafe storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, possession of a firearm contrary to a court order and four counts of breach of a recognizance.

Neighbours told The Chronicle Herald Sunday there had been a shooting in the Williams Lake Road home last winter.

A police report from November lists a shooting in the same street block.

McNeil wouldn’t say whether the victim or the suspects are known to police, nor whether the victim and suspects knew each other, but did say the incident was not random.